CHAPTER 3 / BUILDING AN IMPRESSIVE VOCABULARY 157
Vocabulary Lesson 45: Tough Times
Today’s roots: logia speaking dolus grief
epi- over emia blood❑ tribulation(n) a cause of great trouble or suffering (tribulare oppress)
Being a pop star is not as glamorous as it seems; it often involves many unforeseen tribulations.
Synonyms:adversity, travail, woe, anguish❑ despondent(adj) lacking hope (de-without+sperarehope)
With their team trailing by ten runs in the ninth inning, the fans became despondent.
Synonyms:dejected, depressed, disheartened, desperate Antonyms:ecstatic, elated, euphoric❑ doleful(adj) filled with grief (dolusgrief+-fulfull of)
The funeral for the child was a dolefulaffair; it is always so sad to see someone die at such a young age.
Synonyms:crestfallen, depressed, woeful Antonyms:ecstatic, elated, euphoric❑ anemic(adj) feeble; characterized by oxygen deficiency in the blood (a-without+emiablood)
Our offense was so anemicthat we didn’t hit the ball out of the infield the whole game.
Synonyms:pallid, weak, feeble Antonyms:robust, vigorous, hale❑ malady(n) a disease (malbad)
The flu is a common maladythat strikes millions of people each year.
Synonyms:affliction, ailment, disorder❑ anguish(n) extreme suffering
TheanguishWalter felt when his dog died was unbearable; he could hardly stop crying for a week.
Synonyms:agony, grief, misery Antonyms:ecstasy, elation, euphoria❑ dirge(n) a funeral song
You may think all dirgesare depressing until you’ve been to a New Orleans jazz funeral.
Synonyms:requiem, elegy❑ blight(n) a diseased condition
Synonyms:curse, affliction❑ affliction(n) a disorder causing suffering (ad-to+fligereto strike)
Synonyms:adversity, hardship❑ elegy(n) a poem or song relating to death (legosGr poem of lament)
Synonyms:dirge, requiem❑ epitaph(n) an inscription found on a gravestone (epi-Gr over +taphostomb)
❑ doldrums(n) the blues; persistent unhappiness (dolusgrief)
Synonyms:depression, melancholy❑ adversity(n) hardship
He fought back from adversityto win the title.
Synonym:affliction